The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1887-11-09
MEASLES.

ing the past month has had occasion to
treat some member thereof for the
measles. The cases are invari-
ably confined to the younger members
and in no case has been attended with
serious results. There is a possibility of
the epidemic still spreading, and as
everyone IS interested in the treatment
of this disease, we have taken the trouble
10 inform ourselves on the matter, and
as a result present the following:
Measles is a fever accompanied with
catarrhal symptoms and a characteristic
eruption. 1t is not generally off grave
nature; still, about three per cent. of
those affected with it die. 1t is, in pro-
portion to the number attacked, more
fatal among adults than children. There
are seventv-ive deaths from it yearly,
Oh tile average, in Philadelphia and of
these nearly ninety per cent. are of per-
SOM under five years of age. The NOR
tally is greatest among those in their
second year; but it is not much less
among those in their first. Among
those under three years there are more
deaths of males than of females; but
among those over three the reverse is
the case.
This disease is caused only by con-
tagion. IL is always present in some
communities but severe outbreaks of it
are not uncommon. II may be caught
at a considerable distance from a person
suffering from it and as is the case with
perhaps all contagious diseases, it may
be carried from place to place through
clothing and the like.
The symptoms of this disease begin to
appear in from ten days to two weeks
after the date of exposure to the cause
On falling i'll the patient complains of
feeling unwell generally and is soon few
erish and affected apparently with a cold
both in the head and on the chest.
There is often some nausea and the
bowels are usually constipated. Later
there may be a tendency to diarrhGa.
ii III 10 Noblllloiilf. buN Z
mains moist. A frontal headache is ex-
perienced. The fever, cough, watering
of the eyes and slight discharge from the
nose have mostly not been present long.
err than four days when an eruption
Comes out, first about the head and
neck, and on the second day. oyer most
of the body. This eruption is peculiar :.
it is dark.red In color. and is in slightly
elevated spots. At first the spots are
small and round, but when fully devel-
oped are as as large as half A finper.nail
and are irregular in shape, Their pres.
ence gives the skin a notified appear.
ance; and on examination it will be
found that they tend to run into ores.
centric and circular patches. In some
cases the eruption is much more mark
cd than in others. 1t is checked by the
appearance of bronchitis, or pneumonia.
The itching which attends it is seldom
prees. and IL falls ouicLlv .eor ,Lo
eruption begin, to fade The montaI
faculties ar. ant IN he duII Occosion,,Iv
there ia some delir,um wh;1o tha
tion is coming ont Copyp,s;ono w.
occur. Within a waaL from tho s.a.. III
the symptoms have beoun n vanish .nd
by the ninth or tenth dow ,ho,o IL
scarcely a trace of the rash tn be seen
Small scales continue Il, he sbad for a
few DAYS, These do not const;tnte tho
contagion, 1t ia really before tbe er,,,-
ton has appeared and while If ia anneor.
ing that the disease ia most catcbine
Good nursing is a very essent;o, nor,
of the treatment of this disease. The
great dangers to he opa,,,ed o,o;nst o.o
inflammation of the ewes and If The o;r
passages, The patient sbou,d ho Lo,,.
in his room If mt in hod LII r.
eruption has entirelv d;son,ooroa a.
account of his ewes heinz sore bo should
not be exposed to n briobt l;ob, t. 10
well not to have the temnerotrro of tha
room high it is safer to have n moder.
ateIy low. For exposure to a sliubt
draugbt is sufficient IN do oro., - ~
a person who is habituallv vary worm
OF course, draushts should Ina coros,II,,
guarded against. The face and oil o,ha,
L !